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rDa$$achu$ett$ Commanderv 



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ikval Order of the iinited $ta(e$. 




flDaseacbusetts Commanberig 

of tbe 

IRaval ©rber of tbe XHniteb States. 

1896. 






Gift 

Mtb, Julian Jamoe 
1912 

J^istorieal. 

The Naval Order of the United Sjates developed from 
an informal gathering, on July 4, 1890, of a few gentlemen in- 
terested in naval history. A permanent organization was effected 
Nov. 10, 1890, under the title Naval Co.mmandeI^v of ihe United 
States. The membership was restricted to officers and enlisted 
men of the navy, marine and revenue marine services and their 
descendants, and was limited in number. This organization is 
believed to be the first hereditary society in which eligibility was 
dependent on purely naval service. 

At the meeting of the Commandery, held Nov. 10, 1892, 
action was taken to broaden the field of the organization by for- 
mation of a central body with branches in the different states. 
In connection with another society (since dissolved), a provisional 
organization was effected on June 19, 1893, and at a special 
Congress held Aug. 15, 1893, the General Commandery of the 
Naval Order of the United States was fully constituted, the 
parent body becoming the Massachuseits Commandery of the 
Naval Order of the United States. A change was also made 
in the eligibility clause of the Constitution, membership being 
restricted to commissioned officers and their descendants. 

Commanderies have since been instituted in Penns)'lvania, 
New York, Illinois and the District of Columbia. 

The Massachusetts Commandery was incorporated Dec. 14, 
1894. 



prom tl^e Qopstitutiop. 

PREAMBLE. 

Whereas, Many of the principle battles and famous victories 
of the several wars in which the United States has participated 
were fought and achieved by the Naval forces, 

Whereas, It is well and fitting that the illustrious deeds of 
the great Naval commanders, their companion officers in arms, 
and their subordinates in the wars of the United States should 
be forever honored and respected ; — 

Therefore, Entertaining the most exalted admiration for the 
undying achievements of the Navy, we, the survivors and descend- 
ants of participants of those memorable conflicts, have joined 
ourselves together and have instituted the "Naval Order of the 
United States," that we may transmit to our latest posterity 
their glorious names and memories ; and to encourage research 
and publication of data pertaining to Naval art and science, and 
to establish libraries in which to preserve all documents, rolls, 
books, portraits and relics relating to the Navy and its heroes at 
all times. 

ARTICLE III. 

membership. 

The Companions of the Order shall be of two classes. 

FIRST class. 

Commissioned officers, Midshipmen and Naval Cadets, or 
corps or staff officers with relative rank as such, or appointed vol- 
unteer officers in line of promotion, who were in actual service 
in the Navy, Marine Corps or Revenue Ser\'ice under the authority 
of any of the thirteen original Colonies or States, or of the Conti- 
nental Congress during the War of the Revolution, or of the 
United States during the War with France, the War with Tripoli, 



FROM THE CONSTITUTION. 

the War of 1812, the War with Mexico, the Civil War, or in 
face of the enemy in any engagement in which the Navy of the 
United States has participated and who resigned, were discharged 
with honor, or who are still in the service, or those who served 
as aforesaid but in a grade below that of a commissioned officer, 
Midshipmen, Naval Cadet, or corps or staff officer with relative 
rank as such or appointed volunteer officer in line of promotion, 
and who subsequently became a commissioned officer, regular 
or Volunteer, in the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps or 
Revenue Service : Provided however, that this clause shall not be 
so construed as to include officers who at any time have borne 
arms against the Government of the United States. 

All male descendants of those who are eligible as above speci- 
fied, or in default thereof, then one such collateral representative as 
may be deemed worthy. 

SECOND CLASS. 

Enlisted men who have received the United States Naval 
Medal of Honor for bravery in face of the enemy, may be enrolled 
exempt from fees and dues by the Commanderies of the States in 
which they reside ; such membership to be for life only. 

ARTICLE IX. 

ADMISSION OF COMPANIONS. 

Any person above the age of twenty-one years, of good moral 
character and reputation, desirous of becoming a Companion of 
the Order, shall make application in writing, setting forth claims of 
eligibility, and accompanied by proofs of the same, in which it 
must be satisfactorily shown that the service of the participant was 
other than shore duty, regularly performed in the United States 
Navy or on an armed vessel in the service of the United States or 
sailing under letters of marque and reprisal in time of war. 

Said application, bearing the endorsement of two Companions, 
and accompanied by an admission fee of not less than five (^5.00) 



FROM THE CONSTITUTION. 

m 

dollars, and the dues for the current year, shall be submitted to the 
Committee on Membership, who shall present their report to the 
Council of the Commandery. Upon a favorable ballot by that 
body the applicant shall thereupon become a Companion of the 
Order, 

ARTICLE XIII. 

INSIGNIA. 

The Insignia of the Order shall consist of a gold Cross pattee, 
one and one quarter inches in diameter, arms of blue enamel edged 
with gold. 

CROSS. 

Obverse : In the center on a circle of red enamel five-six- 
teenths of an inch in diameter, an eagle, wings extended, resting on 
an anchor surrounded by thirteen stars of five points all of gold, 
representing in substance the insignia of the Navy of the United 
States ; the whole encircled by a band of white enamel one-eighth 
of an inch wide, displaying in letters of gold the motto of the 
Order, "Fidelitas et Patria." 

Reverse : The Cross as above described. In the center on a 
circle of red enamel five-sixteenths of an inch in diameter shall ap- 
pear in gold the insignia of the United States Marine Corps, the 
whole encircled by a band of white enamel one-eighth of an inch 
wide bearing in letters of gold the legend, "Naval Order of the 
United States." 

The Cross shall be worn on the left breast suspended by a rib- 
bon of heavy ribbed white silk one and bne half inches wide, with 
a red center three-fourths of an inch wide, the whole an inch and a 
half in displayed length, 

******** 

When the Insignia is not worn, a rosette one-half of an inch 
in diameter of the prescribed ribbon and pattern may be worn by 
Companions in the upper button hole of the left lapel of the coat. 



(Jer^eral Ipj^ormatioQ. 



The CoxsTiTUfED Bodiks of the Order are the General Com- 
mandery and the State Commanderies. The legislative body for 
the whole Order is the Congress, which, composed of the General 
Officers and six Delegates from each Commandery, meets in regvilar 
session every third year, on Oct. 5th, the anniversary oi the adopt- 
ion by Congress, in 1775, of the resolutions formally authorizing the 
fitting-out of the first ships of the Navy. It may meet in special 
session upon the vote of the General Council. 

The Council in either the General or a State Commandery 
has the functions of a board of directors. 

The Annual Meetlng of the Massachusetts Commandery is 
held on Nov. loth, the anniversary of the establishment of the 
Marine Corps in 1775. Special meetings are held from time to 
time. 

The Admission Fee is Five Dollars ; the Annual Dues are 
Three Dollars and are payable in January of each year. 

Applicaiion for Membership is made upon a Preliminary 
Application blank. This must be filled in, signed by two Com- 
panions, and sent to the Recorder together with the Admission 
Fee, $5.00, and Dues for the current year, S3. 00, the latter being, 
however, remitted between Nov. ist, and Jan. ist. Full Application 
blanks will then be issued, which must be filled in and returned to 
the Recorder before action can be taken by the Council. The Full 
Application is in duplicate, one copy being for the General Com- 
mandery, the other for this Commandery. Candidates are elected 
by the Council after investigation by the Membership Committee. 
In case of rejection all fees are returned. 

Insignia. By the provisions of the Act of Congress of Sept. 
25, 1890, officers and enlisted men of the different branches of the 
services are permitted to wear the Insignia and colors on all oc- 
casions of ceremony and when in full imiform. The cost of the 
Insignia is $15.00 ; the Rosette costs 25 cents. 

Any further information will be cheerfully furnished on appli- 
cation to the Recorder, Amos Binney, 53 State St., Room 416, 
Boston, Mass. 



officers of tl^e (jeperal Qofn/napdery. 

1895-1898. 

General Cominancier, 

Rear Admiral John Grimes Walker, U. S. N. 
Vice- General Cofnmanders 

Rear Admiral Francis Asbury Roe, U. S. N. (retired.) 

Chief Engineer George W. Melville, U. S. N. 

Colonel John Biddle Porter. 
General Recorder, 

Captain Henry Hobart Bellas, U. S. A., (retired.) 
Assistattt General Recorder, 

Charles Frederick Bacon Philbrook. 
General Treasurer, 

Lieutenant Jarvis Bonesteel Edson, late U. S, N. 
General Registrar, 

Captain Charles Bunker Dahlgren. 
General Historian, 

Captain Richard Strader Collum, U. S. M. C. 
General Chaplain. 

Rt. Rev. William Stevens Perry, D. D., L. L. D., D. C. L., 
Bishop of Iowa. 
General Coiincillors, 

Major Horatio Barnard Lowry, U. S. M. C. 

Commodore Edward Eells Potter, U. S. N., (retired.) 

Commander Felix McCurley, U. S. N. 

Captain Norman H. Farquhar, U. S. N. 

Lieutenant Loyall Farragut, late U. S. N. 

Hon. John Hoffman Collamore. 

Chief Engineer Louis J. Allen, IT. S. N. 

Major Henry Chauncey, Jr. 

Lieutenant Robert S. Critchell, late U. S. N. 



officers of /Hassaei^usetts QD/nmaipdery. 

1896. 

Commander, 

Paymaster Theodore Strong Thompson, U. S. N. 
Vice Commander, 

Chief Engineer David Betton Macomb, U. S. N., (retired.) 
Recorder, 

Amos Binney, 53 State St., Room 416, Boston, Mass. 
Treasurer, 

Hosea ?hnery Bowen, 
Registrar, 

Franklin Thoraason Beatty, M. D. 
Historiati, 

William Lithgow Willey, S. D. 
Ciiaplain, 

Rev. Charles Langdon Tappan. 
Councillors, 

Lieutenant Commander William Melville Paul, late U. S. N. 

Thomas Amory De Blois, M. D., late U. S. N. 

Major William Boerum Wetmore, late U. S. A. 

Charles William Galloupe, M. D. 

Hon. John Hoffman Collamore. 

Lieutenant Commander John Van Benthuysen Bleecker, U. S. N. 

Lieut. William McCarty Little, U. S. N., (retired.) 

Charles Frederick Bacon Philbrook. 
Committee on Membership. 

Lt. Com. John Van Benthuysen Bleecker, U. S. N., Chairman. 

Franklin Thomason Beatty, AL D. 

Amos Binney, Recorder, ex-officio. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



011 460 836 1 



